fluttering in chest - Anxiety Message Board

alpdance · 04-18-2007, 05:10 PM

Hello. I am 17 weeks pregnant with my third child and off all medications for anxiety (most recently Prozac and Xanax). Lately I have been noticing a strange sensation in my upper chest area--it's hard to say whether it feels heart-related or not. What I do know is that it makes me have to cough and once I do, the sensation passes. It feels like a fluttering, that is the best way I can describe it. My Dad has PVC's and he describes them the same way, so I'm guessing that this may be what I'm feeling but I haven't been able to find anyone else who describes it the same way, particularly that feeling of needing to cough or clear my throat. I'm wondering if it is attributable to anxiety, being that I am not on any meds right now. I seem to have some type of physical anxiety symptoms when I am not taking medication. Anyone have that same feeling--like you need to cough and once you do, the feeling passes? Any ideas what it could be? Pregnancy related or anxiety or a combo of both?

ozinpanic · 04-18-2007, 05:41 PM

I had that exact sensation when i was pregnant. I called it missing heartbeat because when i felt it i would place my fingers upto the neck pulse point and find that i miss a beat. I asked my obstaetrician about it and he just said it was pregnancy related and very common since the heart is working for 2 bodies. Since then (11 years) i still get them but not as often, and my dr. puts it down to stress anxiety. I have had the heart monitor test which have shown nothing. The less attention i give it the less often i feel them. Hope this helps.